#81: Why Would Anyone stop singing?
🎵 The answer's in this playlist
Hello from my holiday!
I sent my latest music playlist back in March, so it’s time for some fresh suggestions.
Here are seven songs1 (loosely or directly) related to intrinsic motivation. You’ll hear from folks who want to: sing; eat their banana in peace; create truthful art; and generally be/do their own thing.
As always, you’ll find the single songs as YouTube videos below, and the expanding playlist on Spotify:
If you enjoy this selection, find previous ones here and sign up below to receive the next instalments by email:
La Banane · Philippe Katerine
Philippe Katerine is a French singer-songwriter famous for his absurdist lyrics and performances. This anthem to free banana eating on the beach is a prime example:
Original:
Non je ne veux plus jamais m'habiller
Plutôt crever
Plutôt crever que de me lever
Parce que vous me le demandez
Plutôt creverNon mais laissez-moi ! (x2)
Manger ma banane
Non mais laissez-moi ! (x2)
Manger ma banane
Translation:
No I don’t ever want to get dressed
I’d rather die
I’d rather die than get up
Because you ask me to
But let me, me (x2)
Eat my banana
But let me, me (x2)
Eat my banana
Bons Élèves · Big Flo & Oli feat. MC Solaar
In a much more earnest vein, French rappers Big Flo & Oli released this confession in June (featuring MC Solaar as their rap godfather visiting from the 1990s). They reflect on the downsides of fame, the burden of being seen as role models, and the struggle of staying true to oneself when creating under the public eye.
Original:
Dis-moi pour qui j'écris?
Entre vous et moi, une fine ligne
En vérité, je porte mon humilité comme un bling-bling
[…]
Séparer l'homme de l'artiste, si t'as une scie, j'en ai bien besoin
Presque heureux d'être triste
Tant pis si ça m'inspire un bon refrain
Translation:
Tell me for whom do I write?
Between you and me, a fine line
[…]
Separate the man from the art, if you have a saw, I really need it
Almost happy to be sad
Nevermind if it inspires a good chorus
Do Whatever The Heck You Want · Rae Spoon
An electro-pop ear worm with transparent lyrics, by Canadian singer-songwriter Rae Spoon.
Should I be an artist
Even after I turn forty?
Should I become an accountant
’cause I'm scared of money?
Do whatever the heck you want
Do whatever the heck you want
Don′t tеll anyone what the heck to do
Do whatеver the heck you want
*La Forma de Mirar · Los Aslándticos
An upbeat Spanish pop song, which believes that the unique way in which each of us frames things can make all the difference.
Original:
No es la suerte, es cómo tú eres
No es que no te afecte, es que no te entregues
No es que todo te venga bien, es saber lo que quieresNo es el baile, es cómo te mueves
No es la gente, eres tú el que debes
Darle la vuelta a todo
Translation:
It’s not luck, it’s the way you are
It’s not that it doesn’t affect you, it’s that you don’t surrender
It’s not that it all comes easy to you, it’s that you know what you wantIt’s not the dance, it’s how you move
It’s not the people, it’s you who has to
Give it your own spin to everything
*Fuego · Bomba Estéreo
A 2009 electro cumbia anthem by Colombian duet Bomba Estéreo. The lyrics are about getting a party started and keeping it burning; the song also works to summon the energy to get your taxes sorted.
Original:
Y grita, fuego
Mantenlo prendido, fuego
No lo dejes apagar
Translation:
And shout, fire
Keep it burning, fire
Don’t let it go out
J’veux Du Soleil · Au P’tit Bonheur
This 1991 song is a French classic, all about the nostalgia of long childhood summers.
Original:
J'veux faire danser Maman
Au son clair des grillons
J'veux retrouver mon sourire d'enfant
Perdu dans le tourbillon
Dans le tourbillon de la vie
Qui fait que l'on oublie
Que l'on est resté des mômes
Bien au fond de nos abris
Translation:
I wanna make Mummy dance
To the chirping of the crickets
I wanna find my childlike smile again
Lost in the whirlwind
In the whirlwind of life
Which makes us forget
That we’re still kids
Deep down in our shelters
Mr Tanner · Harry Chapin
Such a bittersweet story of losing one’s true joy. I discovered this 1973 song in Robin Einzig’s post about parenting the child we have, which I mentioned in Three Things #71.
But music was his life, it was not his livelihood
And it made him feel so happy and it made him feel so good
And he sang from his heart and he sang from his soul
He did not know how well he sang, it just made him whole
I want to credit the kick-ass desmadradas for several of these discoveries, marked with a *. We test-danced to these songs in the woods and can attest that they’ll give you oomph for days.
Great selection, Tania! I especially enjoyed Big Flo & Oli, and Rae Spoon, which were both new to me!